Strong start propels Rustlers to victory

Jaden Cook goes up for a lay-up during the first half of the Rustlers 79-60 win against the Eagles at the Lakeland College gym on Friday. Jamie Harkins/Meridian Booster

An incredible start proved the difference for the Lakeland College Rustlers women’s basketball team.

The Rustlers (16-6) stormed out to an early 29-8 lead and 49-17 advantage after two quarters only to give back 43 points in the second half to Camrose’s King’s University Eagles (7-15) at the Lakeland College gym on Friday.

Despite the lack of defensive focus in the final two quarters, the Rustlers still found the opposition basket with regularity leading to a 79-60 victory.

“In the first half we were loose and playing confidently,” said Rustlers guard Jaden Cook.

“It’s not that we weren’t in the second half, but maybe we played a little too loose. We weren’t getting more rebounds and more second opportunities and we weren’t crashing the boards as hard.”

Solid shooting and the ability to find open teammates helped the Rustlers to a 12-2 lead three-and-a-half minutes into the opening quarter.

A Hope DeBruyn three late in the frame seemed to give the Eagles some life, but a couple of good Brianne Hergott foul shots followed by a Shania Magnusson jumper in the key as the shot clock buzzed down ensured the second quarter would belong to the home side as well.

Rustlers assistant coach Amanda Mansfield said the staff had a feeling the team would suffer a bit of a let up in the second half judging from their inconsistent defensive play this season.

She noted playing a full four quarters is something the team is continuing to work on.

A Marta Burchett lay-up and DeBruyn trey at the start of the third quarter foreshadowed the Eagles run through the second half.

They seemed to hold the momentum near the end of the third and early moments of the fourth going on a 21-11 run, but a few key plays late by the Rustlers, including a three courtesy of Meg Ferraz and a hard drive to the basket by Bailey Johnson, kept the Eagles at bay.

“Our girls are getting some confidence,” said Mansfield.

“Today was a good time for everybody to get some time and get out there on the offensive sets. I think it’s just, right now, one of the steps is we have to push back on the players. As coaches, you can only do so much. We can tell them things to do, but it’s mostly the players taking ownership now.”

The Rustlers complete the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) regular season this weekend with a home and home against the Concordia University of Edmonton Thunder (14-8).

The ACAC playoffs run March 1-3 at Calgary’s Southern Alberta Institute of Technology.

The Rustlers gave up three unanswered goals in the opening 25 minutes of their must-win Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) Futsal Championships match against the Camrose University of Alberta… more »